Mortgage rates were unchanged for some lenders today while others were in slightly higher territory. Either way, that leaves the average lender at the highest levels in more than 7 years. For what it’s worth, there are a few lenders that were slightly worse off for a day or two earlier this year. In terms of outright levels, the average top-tier scenario is being quoted 4.875% today. Why so high? Part of the problem is ongoing . A strong economy is not good for rates and neither is additional government borrowing–both big issues in 2018. Those big issues go hand-in-hand with a Federal Reserve that is more willing to hike its policy rate and shrink its balance sheet. We’ll get a fresh update on the Fed’s outlook tomorrow, and indeed, that could be part of the reason that rates are staging at…(read more)